false debate about focus

BusinessWeek, March 11, 2005 — Should businesses concentrate on their own strengths or identify customer needs and stress meeting them? Answer: Both

rise of the creative consumer: focus on innovation†

Economist, March 10, 2005 — How and why smart companies are harnessing the creativity of their customers

branding bloopers and blunders

CNN, March 8, 2005 — Barbie split with Ken two days before Valentine's Day. Smart and savvy marketing or just stupid?

Dunkin Donuts A more perfect pastry

MSN, March 8, 2005 — Something is amiss at Dunkin' Donuts. The store's loyal constituents-cops, firemen, construction workers-report disturbing sightings of soy milk.

For Limited Brands, clothes become the accessory†

Specialty Retailer Stresses Lingerie, Beauty Products; Seeing P&G as Role Model

Wall Street Journal, March 8, 2005 — Mr. Wexner, 67 years old, is pushing Limited to develop new nonapparel products faster and demanding that the company look to other businesses for advice and partnerships

Shock Treatment: Sony, Lagging Behind Rivals, Hands Reins to a Foreigner†

Wall Street Journal, March 7, 2005 — Stringer, Chief of U.S. Unit, Inherits Task of Reviving Core Electronics Business --- How Welshman Wooed Tokyo

What CEOs just don't get about marketing†

Advertising Age, March 7, 2005 — Good Execution Can't Save Bad Strategy